Chest support for portable equipment



Sept. 18, 1962 SHELDON M. MILLER,

INVEN TOR.

A 7' TOR/VE Y 3,054,543 CHEST SUPPORT FOR PORTABLE EQUHMENT Sheldon Martin Miller, 4636 S. Wheeling, Tulsa, Okla.

Filed Jan. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 790,176

3 Claims. (Cl. 224-5) This invention relates to a portable apparatus. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus which provides comfort to the wearer when used in conjunction with a portable apparatus for carrying equipment in both civilian and military applications.

Briefly, this invention relates to the use of a large surface-area, one piece, chest saddle or body portion which is composed of non-rigid material and adapted to provide comfort to the wearer in carrying heavy equipment. Broadly speaking, the saddle arrangement of this invention extends between relatively rigid side brackets which normally straddle the wearer or carrier. The saddle provides a relatively fiat surface to the wearer with unrestrained upper and lower end portions, and without rigid portions touching the wearer. The Webbing material is non-rigid, i.e., it is composed of a material having high strength characteristics, yet capable of being conformable to the wearers body. In particular, this invention proposes one or more layers of a nylon cloth impregnated with neoprene as the material for the saddle.

A typical application for the use of this invention is in geophysical seismic surveying. In many instances it is necessary to place detector cables, wire, and the like, over terrain that is not passable by vehicles. Accordingly, a portable apparatus must be used for laying and removing this cable. Typically, a 1500'2000' multiconductor cable weighs about 50 pounds and, when carried by a single human individual, must be comfortable during the stringing or the taking up of such cable.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a portable apparatus for carrying equipment.

It is another object of this invention to provide a portable apparatus having an improved and comfortable body portion and harness support for the wearer or carrier of the apparatus.

An even further object of this invention is to provide a chest saddle or support which allows an even distribution of weight to the body of the wearer.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent while reading the specifications and claims when taken in conjunction with the illustration which describes a perspective view of the apparatus typical of this invention when used in conjunction with a portable reel carrier.

Referring now to the illustration, the numeral indicates one principal support bracket for equipment such as reel or spool 16 mounted on bearings and rotatable using hand crank 17. A locking pin, not shown, prevents rotation. Bracket 10 and a similar one, not shown, are spaced apart in parallel relationship and held by rods 12 and 14. This spacing between brackets largely depends upon the type of apparatus to be carried, and is preferably large enough to prevent interference of the brackets with the body of the wearer. Extension members 18 and 20 extend from bracket 10 and correspond with similar members 22 and 24 of the other bracket. An intermediate support member attached to the brackets is shown at 26 and 28 respectively. The intermediate supports extends from the brackets a distance equal to or slightly less than that formed by an imaginary line from the upper and lower members of each bracket. Supporting rods 30 and 32 are rigidly aflixed to their respective extensions 18, 26, and 20 of bracket 10, and extensions 22, 28, and 24 of the other bracket. Attached to rods 30 and 32 and extending across the space between brackets 10 and 11 is a large surface area material 40.

3,054,543 Patented Sept. 18, 1962 The material 40 is placed relatively taut between supporting rods 30 and 32 to form a relatively flat surface to the wearers body. As illustrated, the surface 40 is designed to have a slight vertical concave cross section towards the body of the wearer. The material is preferably nylon cloth, treated with neoprene rubber.

It is believed that the comfort from using a chest saddle or support in accordance with this invention is due to a combination of elements. These include, the relatively flat surface 40, free edges 44 and 46, and the material which is conformable or compliant to the body of the wearer. It has been found that comfort in carrying heavy equipment, especially equipment that is to be manipulated or operated during travel is comfortable when the center of gravity is near the body fulcrum or hinge line near the hips. Supporting straps 48, 50, and 52, are aids in holding the material 40 against the body of the wearer. Two of these straps 48 and 50 are over-the-shoulder type extending from a point approximately center of upper rod 12 to lower extensions 20 and 24. A quick-releasing strap 52 extends under the arms of the wearer, across the back and releasably connected to either or both extensions 18 and 22. The arrangement of these straps is engineered to allow release of the apparatus in case of emergency. Quick-release strap 52 is removed and a slight flexing movement of the carriers shoulders allows the apparatus to fall.

Although this invention has been described with particular usage of the webbing material against the chest of a human wearer, it can be readily seen that the device may be adapted to be carried on the back of an individual, or adapted to be carried by animals.

It is a further extension of this invention that the large surface area support design be extended to the use of other natural and synthetic materials or rubber alone.

It some instan'ces, intermediate extension members 26 and 28 may be omitted where the weight and capacity of the apparatus permit. In that instance, rods 30 and 32 would give flexibility to the large surface area chest webbing of this invention, providing further comfort to the wearer. Where a more rigid application is needed, rods 30 and 32 will comprise a solid cast portion of the bracket assembly with the large one piece body support suitably held thereto, such as with rivets and the like.

Although I have described this invention with a certain degree of particularity, it can be seen from the foregoing that this invention is susceptible of a wide variety of modifications and embodiments, and that it is not limited to the apparatus specifically described. This invention should therefore be construed to be limited not by the description, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A harness for carrying and transporting equipment comprising two substantially symmetrical brackets rigidly spaced in parallel relationship to substantially straddle the carrier, means for holding the equipment on the brackets, extension members on each bracket, a rod interconnecting each of the extension members on each bracket, a relatively large surface area compliant body portion attached to each rod and extending relatively taut between the brackets, and removable strap means for holding the body portion against the carrier.

2. A harness for carrying and transporting equipment comprising two substantially symmetrical brackets rigidly spaced in parallel relationship to substantially straddle the carrier, means for holding the equipment on the brackets, upper and lower members extending from each bracket, an intermediate member between the upper and lower members extending from each bracket a distance at least equal to that formed by an imaginary line between the upper and lower members, a rod connecting to each of the upper, intermediate, and lower members of each bracket forming a slightly concave arc in the direction of the wearer, a large surface area compliant body portion rattache d to the rod on each bracket and extending in a relatively taut manner in the space defined between the brackets and the upper and lower members, and strap means connecting with the brackets for holding the body portion against the carrier.

3. A harness for carrying and transporting equipment comprising two substantially symmetrical brackets rigidly spacedin-parallel relationship to substantially straddle the carrier, means for holding the equipment on the brackets, upper and lower members extending an equal distance from each bracket, a rod connecting the upper and lower members on each bracket, a relatively large surface area compliant body portion attached to the rod on each bracket and extending in a relativelytaut manner a a r 3,054,543

in the space defined between the brackets, and the upper and lower members, and strap means connecting with the brackets for holding the body portion against the carrier.

References Cited :in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 'D. 130,181 Hartsock Oct. 28, 1941 D. 173,264 Harvill Oct. 19, 1954 296,196 Lockwood Apr. 1, 1884- "2,351,735 Bake June 20, 1944 2,510,090 Di Masi June 6, 1950 2,742,212 Siftar Apr. 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 155,627 Germany Aug. 30, 1903 867,954 Germany Feb. .23, 1953 

